One of the world’s largest diamonds – a 709-carat rough discovered in March by a Christian pastor – failed to sell last week when the government of Sierra Leone rejected the highest bid for it.
According to Gem Konnect, the highest bid stood at $7.8 million as five bids – starting at $2 million – were handed in sealed envelopes. The top bid, according to the report, “was made by a man in a white shirt and light trousers on behalf of Belgium diamond dealer Ray Diam BVBA”.
Sahr Wonday, chief auctioneer and head of the National Minerals Agency, said: “We’ve decided not to sell the diamond today because the highest bid price … does not match the government reserve price”. According to the report, the government will try to get more for the huge stone “at an international auction in either Antwerp, Belgium or Tel Aviv”.
The “egg-sized” diamond fund in March is the second largest ever to be unearthed in Sierra Leone. The largest is the Star of Sierra Leone, a 968.9-carat rough found in 1972.
